Stamp moistening and affixing machine.



J. GILLHAM, Jn.'

STAMP MOISTBNING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION PILIzD Nov. 1, 1909.

1,004,41 3. Y Patented sept. 26, 1911.

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APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 1, 1909.

1,004,41 3. Patented sept. 26, 1911.

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1. GILLHAM, JR. STAMP MOISTBNING AND APFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1909.

1,004,413. Patented sept. 26, 1911.V

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NTTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

JOHN GILLI-IAM, JR., 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES NICHOLS, 0F

' KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

STAMP MOISTENING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

Application filed November 1, 1909. Serial No. 525,815.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN GILLHAM, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp Moistening and AliixingMachines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others to make and use t-he same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of the invention is a machine for moistening and ailixing adhesive stamps or labels to mailing matter, which is simple and compact in its mechanism, and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, such as will be first fullydescribed, and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1. is a view in perspective, taken from the right handslde and forward end of the machine, in position for operation. Fig. 2. is a plan View. Fig. 3. is a view in perspective, taken from the left hand side and rear end of the machine with portions of the frame and water receptacle broken away, the operable parts being in the position at the moment of separating and aftxing the stamp or label. Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal, vertical sectional views of the machine, taken on line y, y, Fig. 2, the operable parts being in the position as seen in Figs. 1 and 8, respectively. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the vibrating, stamp-feeding table in an inverted position. Fig. 7. isa detail, vertical sectional View, taken on the line on Fig. 2. Fig. 8. is a broken, detail view of a portion of the vibrating stampcarrying bed, showing the shearing portion of the stamp-separating plate. Fig. 9. is a detail view of the reciprocating plate on the under side of the vibrating stamp-carrying bed. Fig. 10. is a detail View of the capstan screw regulating the action of the arms of thepresser bar, showing one of the standards in section. Fig. l1. is a detail broken view in perspective of the upper end portions of the platen and spring plate.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures of the drawing, to which reference is now made.

The frame of the machine consists of a base l0, constructed as shown, of parallel bars 12, of uniform length. These bars are connected together at their forward ends by the round connecting rod 14:, and at a point within a third of the distance rearwardly of their rear ends by the connecting rods 15, screws 16 extending through the bars 12, into the ends of the rods.

To the upper surface of the bars 12, are

connected rigidly the lower ends of the for` ward standards 17, which extend upwardly the requisite distance to support part of the operable mechanism hereinafter described, and are connected together at their upper ends by the connecting rod 18, secured by screws 18X, passing through the standards into the ends of rod 18. Vith the rear surfaces of the standards 17, at a point about one-fourth the distance downwardly from the line of their upper ends, are connected rigidly the forward ends of the parallel bars 19, the rear ends of which bars extend horizontally to a position in a vertical line with the rear ends of the bars 12, of the base 10. The rear ends of bars 19 are supported by standards 20, secured Iixedly to the upper surface of bars 12, at a point intermediate the standards 17, and the rear ends of said bars, screws 21 extending through the bars 19 into the upper ends of standards 20. The rear ends of bars 19 are secured together by a transverse rod 22, screws 23 extendinv' through the bars 19, into the ends of said rod. The upper surfaces of the bars 12, of

.the base 10 are cut away at 24, upon an incline from a point a short distance in rear of the line `of the rear surfaces of standards 20, and downwardly to the rear ends of bars 12, of base, and to said rearwardly and downwardly-inclined surfaces 24 is secured by the screws 25X the plate or table 25, upon which the mailing matter is to be placed in the operation of aflixing the stamp or stamps. This plate 25 is of the same width as base 10, and extends rearwardly a short distance beyond the line of the rear ends of bars 12. At the forward end of the plate 25, a portion 26 is bent at right angles and extended upwardly a short distance, forming a lange, said portion 26 being adjacent to the rear surfaces of standards 20, and having its central portion cut away at 27,

downwardly, and also the forward portion of plate 25, as seen in Fig. 4, the thickness of said portion 26. The portion cut away at 27 is toward the right-hand side of the machine, upon which side the upwardly-extended portion 26 is short in length.

Beneath'the plate or table 25 is a spring plate 28, nearly of the same width as the space 27 in the upwardly-bent portion 26 of plate 25, its outer end being sec-ured by screws 28X, to plate 25, and its inner end extended to a position in the space 27, and a portion 29 bent at right angles and extended upwardly in line with the portion 26, of plate 25. Through the right-hand portion of plate 25, a slight distance from spring plate 28 and from the under side of said plate 25, extends a screw 30, which forms a post for alining mail matter, as further described.

The adhesive stamps or labels employed in the invention are such as are obtained in series printed upon a strip of narrow material 33, the width of an ordinary stamp or label, and any desired length, the stamps 31, in the strip as shown being separated by the perforations 32, in transverse lines. 1n order to support the stamps, the strip or' lengths are preferably wound upon spools with the adhesive surfaces outward, convenient for immediate use.

As shown the spool 34 containing the stamps 31, is mounted upon a spindle 35, which spindle is rotatable in bearings 36, in the outer ends of the bars or brackets 37, extending the requisite distance forwardly from the outer surface of the standards 17, at a point about equi-distant from their upper and lower ends, and secured to said standards by screws 38. The stamp separating and stamp applying mechanism is carried by a pivoted, vibrating stamp-supporting bed 40. This bed is composed of a bed plate 41, which is narrow in width and slightly less than the space 27, in the portion 26, of plate 25, and in length approximately equal to the length of base 10, of the machine. To the upper surface of the plate 41 are secured ixedly and parallel with the longitudinal outer surfaces the steam-guiding strips or bars 42, the space between said strips or bars being slightly in excess of the width of the stamps 31. At the upper end of plate 41, is a transverse adjustable bar 43, halved at the ends, and said halved portions are secured to the upper surfaces of bars 42 by adjusting screws 43X. One end of one of bars 42, in the direction of the right-hand side of the machine, extends a slight distance beyond the line of the upper end of plate 40, and to the upper surface of said extended portion is secured in a vertical position a post or block 44, for the purpose hereinafter described.

On the forward standards 17 at a point a short distance upwardly from the line of their lower ends is journaled the transverse rock shaft 45, the journals 46 extending through the perforations 47, in the stand-` ards and a short distance past the outer surface of said standards, are screw threaded and provided with nuts 49.

The plate 41, of the vibrating bed 40 is secured to the rock-shaft 45 by the screws 45X (see Fig. G) at a point about'one-fourtli the distance above its lower end, said lower end bearing on the transverse bar 14, which limits the upward reciprocating movement of the long or vibrating end of the bed. The plate 41 is also secured closer in position to the standard 17, upon the right hand side of the machine, and above the space 27 in the portion 26, of table or plate 25, for the mail matter, for the purpose further explained.

The rear portion of the bottom plate 41, of the bed 40, extending from the line of the outer surface of the transverse bar 42 a distance in the direction of the forward end of plate 41, corresponding to the length of a stamp, or the distance between perforations 31, separating a stamp from the strip is entirely removed or cut away transversely on the line 50X, leaving an opening 50, for

the passage of the individual stamp or las bel, as further described. As beforedescribed, the transverse, adjustable bar 43 which is halved leaves a space 51 beneath, in which is placed the upper end of the stamp separating and aftixing spring plate 52, which is secured to the under side of bar 43 by the rivets 53.

The plate 52 is slightly less in width than the width of the opening 50, between the inner surfaces of the strips 42, the movable cutting edge 54 being extended to a position and movable downwardly past the upper portion of plate 40, which is cut away as before described at 50X, forming the lower cutting edge.

Upon the upper surface of the cutting vplate 52, and extending transversely thereto in line with its rear cuttingedge, is secured fixedly a transverse plate 55, narrow in width, one end portion of which plate, in the direction of the left-hand side of the machine, is extended beneath and a short distance beyond the line of the outer surface of bar 42, see Fig. 6. To the upper surface of the same bar 42`is secured by the screws 57 X the horizontal plate 57, which extends outwardly from the surface of bar 42 to a p'osition above the extended portion of the transverse plate 55, and through said plate extends an adjusting screw 58, which bears upon the upper surface of said extended por'- v tion of plate 55 as seen in Figs. 1 and 8. In the central portion of the cutting plate 52, is an opening 59, through which the stamp `may be observed upon the under surface of said plate, as further described. The portion of the rear end of plate 52 opposite to that having the extension of plate 55 is bent upwardly at an angle to the plate 41, as seen in F ig. 8, leaving a space through which the stamps may pass beneath the said plate, and also permitting the cutting edge 54, of plate 52, to move downwardly with a shear cut under pressure past the upper portion X, of plate 41, and move upwardly with a spring movement when the pressure is released. Upon the upper surface of the transverse plate is a perforate lug 60, to which is pivotally connected transversely by the pivot 61, the lower, forked end of the vertically operating presser bar or plunger 62, which extends upwardly the requisite distance upon the upper end of which is a cap 64. The rear surface and lower end of the bar 62 is cut away downwardly, and inwardly, as at 63. To said rear surface of bar 62 at a point a short distance below cap 64, is pivotally connected, at 65X, the upper end of locking strip or plate 65, the lower end being adapted to be moved laterally and bear on the upper, inner edge of the bar 19, when the operable parts arein the position as seen in Fig. 1, and prevent downward movement of the stampsupporting bed 40.

Between the inner surfaces of the bars or stamp guiding strips 42, and at a point in the direction of the lower end of bed 40, from the upper terminus 50X, of plate 41, is located a transverse plate (56, the lower surface being positioned a slight distance above the upper surface of plate 41, and the upper, transverse edge being positioned the distance from the said terminus or cutting edge 50, corresponding to the distance between the perforations 31, of the strip separating a. single stamp. The ends of the plate 66 are bent at right angles and extended upwardly on the inner surfaces of the parallel strips 42, then bent at right angles and secured by screws 66X, to the upper surface of saidbars 42.v To the lower surface of the transverse plate 66 is secured fixedly the lower ends of the series of narrow stamp guiding, yielding strips 67, the upper ends of which strips extendupwardly to a position in a vertical line with the upper terminal or edge 50X, of the plate 41, and a portion of one of the intermediate strips 67 is bent at'right angles and extended upwardly a slight distance as at 68, the lower surfaces of the strips 67 being positioned a slight distance above the upper surface of plate 41, to permit the passage of the stamps. To the lower surface of plate 41, and near the outer longitudinal surfaces of said plate, at a point a short distance downwardly from the upper terminal portion of plate 41, are secured the short posts 69, and at a point a short distance on said plate above the line of the rock shaft 45 are secured the posts 69X. Vith the respective posts 69 and 69X, are secured by the screws 70X, the longitudinal guide strips 01' plates 70. Between said plates 70 and the l lower surface of plate 41 is a reciprocating, transverse flat plate 71, upon the ends of which plate are round extensions 72, extending beyond the line of the longitudinal surfaces of plate 41, upon which are rollers 72".

In the upper surface of the transverse reciprocating plate 71 are grooves 73, in which are laid the rear end portions of the stamp supporting wires or fingers 74, as seen in Fig. 9, these ends beingextended through the plate 71, and secured by the screws 7 5. The forward ends of these lingers when the plate 71 is against the posts 69, extend to a position a short distance from the upper end of the bed 40, and when moved against the lower posts (39X, the ends of the fingers are below the upper edge 50X, of the plate 41. lVith the rear surface of the plate 71 is connected rigidly the upper end of a guiding wire 77, the lower end extending through a perforation 78, in the rock shaft 45. (See Fig. 4.)

Upon the forward standards 17 is journaled directly below the connecting rod 18, a rock shaft S0, the central portion being .rectangular in cross section, and to which portion is connected rigidly theupper ends of the stamp feeding fingers or wires 81, in pairs, said pairs of fingers being spaced apart, and their lower ends extended to a position past the guiding strip (3G, and bearing upon the upper surface of plate 41, of the vib ating, stamp-carrying bed 40, and in line with the upper terminal or edge 50", of said plate 41, when the Vibrating end portion is at the limit of its upward movement, as seen in Fig. 1. The short portion of shaft 8O toward the right hand side of the machine is cylindrical, and around said portion is wound or coiled a wire spring 82, one end of which spring wire is bent around one ofthe fingers or wires S1, and the other extended upwardly and caused to bear on the rear surface of the connecting rod 1S, the bending of the spring acting to keep the finger 81 in contact with the surface vof plate 41.

Journaled in the standards 17, directly beneath the rock shaft 80, is a rock shaft 83, through which extends the upper ends of the guiding arms S4, the lower ends of which arms extend downwardly to and are pivotally connected with the round extensions 72, on the reciprocating plate 71, the length of said arms permitting the plate 71 to move the full distance between the posts G9* and (39, on the lower surface of plate 41. Extending through the standards 17 on the right hand side of the machine, immediately below the rock shaft 83, is a rod 85, secured from movement by the nut 86", its inner end extending in the direction and to within a short dist-ance of the standard 17, on the left hand side of the machine. Upon said rod is a loose sleeve 87, which extends from one standard to within a short distance of the inner end of the rod 85. In the upper end portion of the operating spring presser bar 62, a short distance below the cap 64, is a transverse perforation 88, through which is extended a rod or wire 89, and at which point the wire is bent to form two ends or arms of equal length, and these ends are secured by soldering` or other means to the sleeve 87, on the rod 85, the said ends of the connecting arms extending between the guide arms 84. Within a depression in the inner end of the rod 85, is pivoted the coni.- cal inner end of a short capstan screw 90, which screw extends through the standard 17 on the left hand side of the machine. Extending around the portion of the rod 85 and around the capstan screw connected therewith is a coiled or tension spring 91, one end of which spring extends upon the outer surface of the sleeve and is connected with one of arms 89 (see Fig. 8), and the other end is connected with the capstan nut 90? located on said capstan screw 90 adjacent to the inner surface of standard 17. Upon the outer end of the capstan screw, and bearing on the outersurface of standard 17, is a nut 86. In turning the capst-an screw 90, the tension of` the spring 91, is increased or diminished according to the direction of movement of the nut, thereby regulating the force of the upward movement of the arms 89, and the spring presser bar 62, on the plate 55.

The means for moistening the stamps consist first, of a reservoir 92, for the water. This receptacle as shown is a hollow case, closed at both ends and located upon the left-hand side of the machine, and extends from the rear surface of the forward standard 17, a short distance beneath the upper bar 19, of the frame ofthe machine rearwardly, a distance corresponding to the length of said bar 19. rlhe reservoir 92 is supported by a short standard 20X, extending upwardly from the base bar 16, and opposite standard 20, and between the upper bar 19 and the reservoir is a supporting block 200. rlhe reservoir extends in width from the line of the outer surface of the standards inwardly a short distance past the line of the inner surfaces of the standards.

lith the upper portion of the reservoir and forward end is connected a short tube 94 for supplying water, which extends upwardly through an opening 95, in the upper bar 19, of the frame of the machine, as seen in Fig. 3. rlhe open end of the tube is closed by a slide 96, and pivoted at 97 to the upper surface of bar 19. At the rear end portion of the bars 19, a short distance forward of the transverse connecting rod 22, is

j ournaled the hollow oscillating cylinder 98, composed of two independent parts 98X, and 989, each part being closed at its outer end .and provided with a journal 100, extending through the bars 19. With the short portion 980, of the cylinder, is connected the upper end of a short tube 101, the lower end of which tube extends within the upper portion of the reservoir 92. rlhe inner end portion of the separate parts of the cylinder 98 are provided with a joint composed of an inner, circumferentially-reduced portion 102, upon the portion 98X, into which is tted the circumferentially-reduced necl'103. lith the hollow, oscillating portion 98X is connected the upper ends of a series of meistening` tubes 104, the lower ends of which tubes extend to a position when the vibrating bed is in the position seen in Fig. 1, nearly to the line of the upper end portion 50X, of the said vibrating bed 40, and beneath the stampseparating and ailixing plate 52. The lower, forward portion of these moistening tubes 104 are cut away or halved transversely, as best seen in Fig. 5. The means for conducting the water from the reservoir to the tubes 104 is that of a wick 105, within the reservoir, as seen in Fig. 7. The upper end of this wick is extended upwardly through the short tube 101, into the short fixed portion 980, of the cylinder 98, and extended to a position near the inner ends of the tubes 104, at which point three strands 106, as shown of the wick, are passed through the respective openings in the cylinder 98X, and extended outwardly to the line of the ends of the tubes 104. rllhe water is conducted from the reservoir by the wick to each strand in the tubes 104. rlhrough the closed end of the portion 98X, of the cylinder 98, parallel with the tubes 104, extends the ,upper end of an arm or rod 107, which bears on the connecting rod 22, and which contacts with the outer surface of the block 44, on the upper end of the vibrating bed 40, and by means of which the moistening tubes 104 are moved downwardly and away from the vibrating bed in the afhxing of the stamp. r

The position of the tubes 104 in the position as seen in Fig. 1 or before the downward movement of the vibrating bed 40 is' upwardly, at an angle of inclination coincident with the cutting plate 52, on the vibrating, stamp-carrying bed 40, but at a slight distance therefrom to form an interval, this position being controlled by the end of the rod 107, which comes into Contact with the transverse rod 22 and limits its movement. The automatic upward movement of the tubes 104 is effected by the coiled spring 108, which is wound around the reduced portion 109, of the oscillating portion 98X, of the cylinder 98, one end of the spring wire be# ing connected with the rod 107 and the other extended to and across to bear on the connecting rod 22.

In order to govern the spring action of the tubes 104 so that the return movement of the tubes to a normal position will be gradual, and thus permit the movement of succeeding stamps beneath the fingers 74, before moistening, on the right hand side of the frame of the machine, beneath the hori- Zontal bar 19 and secured by t-he screw 110X to the rear surface of standard 20, is a horizontal cylinder or dash pot 110, in which is a piston 112, with which is connected a piston rod 114, having an eye 115.

Through the reduced portion of the oscillating portion 98", of the wick-carrying cylinder 98 extends the upper end of a crank arm 117, the lower end of which arm extends downwardly to the line of the piston rod 114, and thence outwardly through the eye 115, on the piston rod 114.

In the operation of atlixing the stamps o r labels to the matter to be stamped, the position of the upper end of the vibrating stamp supporting bed being in its normal position or inclined as seen in Fig. 1, and ready for use, the free end of the strip 83, which is wound on the spool 34 is placed with adhesive end downwardly, on the upper surface of the plate 41, of the vibrating stamp supporting bed 40, and moved upwardly between the guiding strips 42, thence beneath the transverse bar 66, and the yielding stampguiding plates 67. The first stamp at said end of the strip is extended into the stampopening beneath the cuttingplate 52, and upon the upper surface of the fingers 74 which now extend beneath said plate and to a dened position, as seen through perforation 59, and also in which the perforations 31 forming a line of separation between said first stamp and the stamp immediately following are directly beneath the cutting edge 54, of the cutting plate 52. The reservoir 92 is supplied with water through the tube opening 95, the valve 96 being moved aside for the purpose, the amount of water required being that necessary to keep the wick 105 fully saturated, the water being distributed to each strand 106, in the tubes 104, and these strands beingl kept constantly moistened. The matter to be stamped is placed on the inclined table 25, an envelop 118 being shown illustrative of its position in Fig. 8, the right hand end of the envelop being placed against the post 30, and the upper, longitudinal edge against the up wardly-extended portion or flange 26, of platen 25. Pressure is then imparted to the cap 64, on the pressure bar 62 by the hand to move the elevated end of the stamp-carrying bed 40 downwardly.

The elevated end of the stamp-supporting bed 40 first moves the distance, separating .the moistener from a position at a slight angle to the moistener to a parallel position therewith, and bringing the adhesive portion of the stamp in contact with the moistened er saturated strands 10G, which moistened the portion of the stamp between the fingers 74. The block 44 on the bed comes into contact with the rod 107, and the moistening devices move downwardly and rearwardly in the direction of the table 25, out of contact with the vibrating end of bed 40. In the succeeding downward movement of the said end of bed 40, the lingers 74 supporting the stamp are withdrawn from beneath the stamp in the rearward movement of the plate 71, in the guide bars 70, which new move in the direction of the posts 69X, and in which movement of bed 40 the fingers 81 move rearwardly over the surface of the stamps following the stamp beneath the cutting plate 52. Upon the completion of the downward stroke or movement of the said bed, the lingers 74 are fully withdrawn beneath the plate 40, of the bed, and the ends of the fingers 8l come into position upon the upper surfaces of the transverse plate 6G, the end of the bed 4 0 being inclined at the angle of the plate 25, and the moistened adhesive surface of the stamp is brought close in position to the upper surface of the envelop. An increased pressure is then given the cap (34, which action forces the cutting edge 54 of the plate 52 downwardly into the plane of the envelops, severing the joining portions of the line of perforations of the stamp, and at'the same time aflixing the moistened, adhesive stamp to the envelop.

Upon releasing pressure on the cap 64, the hearing edge 29, of spring plate 28, forces upwardly the vibrating end of the bed 40 a short distance, to give impulse upward to the bed, the spring plate 52 springs back to the normal position, and as the vibrating end of bed 40 rebounds or moves upwardly under the tension of the wires 89, on the pressure bar 62, the ends of the fingers 81 move from their position on plate 66, and engage with the perforations of the succeeding stamp to that afiixed to the envelop, and move the strip 33, of the series of stamps upwardly beneath the transverse bar 66, and the yielding, stamp-guiding plates 67, and beneath the cutting plate 52, the fingers 74, in the meantime, having moved outwardly beneath the stamp, in position for the next downward movement of the stamp atiixing bed 40, and the moistener controlled by the slow return movement of the piston 112, in the cylinder 110, slowly returning to its normal position, as before described.

Cards in numbers may be stacked on the plate 25, so as not to interfere with the tubes 106, and the stamps affixed, envelops being stamped one after the other, as rapidly as the hand can place the envelop in position,

thereby affording convenience and speed to the operation.

When the machine is not in use, the lower ends of the pivoted plate 65, on the presser bar 62 is moved laterally to a position seen in dotted lines in Fig. l, with its lower end resting on the bar 19, of the frame of the machine in which position of the bar the operable parts of the machine are secure from movement until the supply of the stamps is required.

Such changes may be made in the organization of the elements of the machine as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination in stamp-afiixing mechanism, with a platen supporting the matter to be stamped, of a pivoted, vibrating, stamp-supporting bed having an opening for the passage of a stamp, and stampseparating and aflixing devices operable upon the down stroke of the bed, and self acting stamp feeding devices operable upon the up stroke of the bed.

2. The combination in astamp-moistening and aiiixing machine, with the platen supporting the matter to be stamped, of a pivoted vibrating` stamp-supporting bed having an opening for the passage of a stamp and stamp-separating,stamp-atlixing and stampmoistening devices operable in the down stroke of the bed, and self acting stampfeeding devices, operable upon the up stroke of the bed.

3. The combination in stamp aflixing mechanism with a platen supporting the matter to be stamped, of a pivoted vibrating stamp supporting bed adapted to support a perforated strip of stamp material, and having a stamp opening for the passage of a stamp opposite said platen, stamp aiiiXing devices supported above said opening and operable in the down stroke of the bed, and means engaging with the perfor-ations forming the lines of separation of the stamps of the strip of stamp material for moving automatically the said strip upon the bed and advancing a stamp to the stamp opening` beneath the stamp aiiixing devices upon the up stroke of the vibrating bed.

4c. The combination in stamp-aixing mechanism with a platen supporting the matter to be stamped, of an inclined vibrating stamp-supporting bed having an opening for the passage of a stamp opposite to said platen, stamp-separating and aflixing devices carried by said bed, and means acting automatically to support they stamp in the stamp-opening in the down-stroke of the bed.

5. The combination in stamp-aflixing mechanism with a platen supporting the matter to be stamped, of an inclined vibrating stamp-supporting bed having an opening for the passage of a stamp opposed to said platen, recoiling means for effecting an up-stroke of the vibrating bed, stamp-separating and affixing devices mounted on said bed and movable in the direction of the stamp opening, means for feeding a strip of stamps one after another to the stamp-supporting means beneath said opening, operable on the up-stroke of the bed.

6. In a stamp-afiixing mechanism the combination with a platen supporting the matter to be stamped, an inclined vibrating stamp-supporting bed having an opening for the passage of a stamp opposed to said platen, a stamp afiXing plate and a presser bar operating said plate, means for feeding a strip of stamps one after another to said stamp opening, and fingers supporting the stamps beneath said stamp-opening, and withdrawing means for the lingers actuated in the down-stroke of the vibrating bed.

7. In stamp-afiXing mechanism the combination with a platen supporting the matter to be stamped, a pivoted vibrating stampsupporting bed having an opening for the passage of a stamp, sliding devices on the lower surface of the bed, and guide arms slidingly connected therewith and adapted to move reciprocally with said bed, and spring-actuated stamp-feeding fingers movh able upon the upper surface of the bed adapted to feed a strip of the stamps one after another to the stamp-aflixing devices upon the up-stroke of the bed.

8. In stamp-aiiixing mechanism the combination witha platen supporting the matter to be stamped, an inclined vibrating stampsupporting bed having an opening for the passage of a stamp, sliding devices on the under surface of the bed, and guiding arms connected therewith, stamp-afiixing devices on said bed, means acting automatically to feed the stamps one after another to the stamp opening, and fingers connected with the sliding devices on the under surface of the bed and movable past the stamp opening.

9. In stamp-aflixing mechanism the combination with a platen supporting the matter to be stamped, an inclined vibrating stampsupporting bed having an opening forV the passage of a stamp, a transverse sliding plate in the under surface of the bed, guide arms connected with said plate, means for feeding a strip of stamp on the said bed, one after another to the stamp opening, means connected with the sliding plate in the un-Y der surface of the bed for supporting the stamp in position, means for moistening the stamp and a stamp-aiiixing and separating spring-plate connected with the bed, a presser bar and spring-controlled arms connected with the presser bar and effecting the up-stroke of the bed.

l0. In e Stamp-axing machine the combination with the pivoted stamp supporting plate having an opening for the passage of a stamp, and with means for feeding stamps to said stamp opening, sliding devices on the under side of said plate movable over said opening, and guide arms connected therewith, a platen beneath said opening supporting the matter to be stamped, and a stamp-separating and afiixing plate within the stamp opening and having a movable portion at a cutting angle to the sides of said opening and operating means therefor.

11. In a stamp-atlixing machine, the combination with the pivoted stamp Supporting plate having an opening for the passage of a stamp, and with means for feeding stamps one after another to said stamp-opening, sliding devices on the under surface of said plate movable over said opening and guide arms connected therewith, a platen beneath said stamp opening supporting the mattei' to be stamped, means for moisteningr the stamp, and an inclined stamp-separating and afiixing plate having an inclined cutting portion movable downwardly within said stamp opening and operating means therefor.

l12. In a stamp aflixing machine, the combination with the pivoted stamp supporting plate having an opening, for the passage of a stamp, and with meansl for feeding stamps one after another to said opening, of sliding devices on the under surface of said plate movable over said opening and guide arms connected therewith, a platen beneath said stamp opening for the matter to be stamped, means for moistening the stamps, and a stamp-separating and attixing spring-plate above the stamp opening having an inclined cutting portion movable downwardly past one of the sides of said stamp opening and operating means therefor.

13. In a stamp-afhaling machine the combination with the pivoted stamp supporting plate having an opening of the size of a single stamp, and with means for feeding stamps one after another to said stampopening, a platen beneath said opening supporting the matter to be stamped, a stampseparating and aftixing spring-plate above said stamp-opening having an inclined stamp-separating portion inclined to said bed and movable within said stamp opening, means acting automatically to support the stamp in the stamp opening in the down stroke of the bed, and means for imparting downward pressure to said spring plate.

11. In a stamp-atiixing machine the combination with the stamp supporting plate having an opening the size of a single stamp, and with means for feeding stamps to said stamp-opening, a platen beneath said opening supporting the matter to be stamped, means for moistening the stamps, and a stamp-separating and aftixing spring-plate connected with said stamp supporting plate and having a portion extending above the entrance to said stamp-opening and inclined to said stamp supporting plate, and adjusting means in the path of the upward movement of said inclined portion of said plate.

15. In stamp-atlixing mechanism the combination with a platen supporting the matter 'to be stamped and with a vertically movable rebounding bed, and stamp-allixing devices on said bed, of a rotary spring-controlled liquid conductor, and moistening branch tubes extending therefrom beneath said bed in lits rebounded position, and moved by said bed from its path in the down-stroke of said bed.

16. In stamp-attixing mechanism the combination with a platen supporting the matter to be stamped, and with a vertically movable rebounding bed, and stamp-aiiixing devices on said bed, of a rotary spring-controlled liquid conductor, and moistening branch tubes extending therefrom beneath said bed in its rebounded position, and Inoved by said bed from its path in the down-stroke of the bed, and means for retarding the return movement of the meistening tubes.

17. In stamp-atixing mechanism the combination with a pivoted vibrating stampsupporting bed and with the stamp-attixing devices on said bed, of a rotary spring-controlled liquid conductor, stamp moistening means extending from and communicating with said conductor normally supported in parallel planes and at a distance from the stamp-allixing devices on said bed, and means actuated in the down-stroke of the bed for imparting rotary movement to said liquid conductor and moving said meistening means from its path subsequent to the contact of the said moistening means with the stamp-aflixing devices.

18. A stamp-moistening and aiiixing machine comprising a base frame, and standards supported thereby,V an inclined vibrating stamp-supporting bed pivotally connected at its forward end with the lower portion of said forward standards, and having an opening for the passage of a stamp in the rear elevated end, a stamp-separating and a'Hixing spring-plate secured to said bed and having a forward inclined stamp-separating portion extending above said opening, a presser bar connected with said plate, a spring-controlled rock shaft on the forward standards, and arms connected therewith and pivotally connected with the said presser bar and adapted to communicate a rebounding motion to the said bed, means for feeding the stamps to the stamp-afiixing plate from a strip of stamps, a reservoir connected with the said frame, a rotary liquid conductor in communication with the reservoir, on the rear portion of said frame, and a rod against which the bed comes into contact in its down stroke, branch tubes extending' from the rotary conductor having halved portions adapted to receive a liquid absorbent.

19. In a stamp-afxing machine the combination with the frame of the machine, and with a pivotally connected stamp-supporting bed, and with the stamp-aflixing devices on said bed, of a hollow cylinder en said frame having separate fixed and oscillating parts, a reservoir, and a conductor leading therefrom to the ixed portion of the cylinder, and tubes leading from the oscillating portion of the cylinder, and means for moving said tubes within the path of the stampaflixing devices and away therefrom in the down-stroke of the bed.

20. ln a stamp-afixing machine the combination with the frame of the machine, and with a pivotally connected stamp-supporting bed and with the stamp-affixing devices on said bed, of a hollow cylinder on said frame having separate xed and oscillating parts, a reservoir, and a conductor leading from the reservoir to the fixed parts of said cylinder, and tubes connected with said oscillating parts of the cylinder and adapted to be moved into the path of the stamp-affixing devices. p

21. ln a stamp-afiixing machine the combination with the frame of the machine, and the pivoted inclined vibrating bed, and with the stamp-atlixing devices on said bed, a presser bar, and a pivoted locking plate on said bar adapted to engage with the frame of the machine.

22. In a stainp-aiiixing machine the combination with the frame of the machine and the pivoted inclined vibrating bed ha fing an opening for the passage of a stamp, stampguiding bars on said bed, a stamp-aflixing spring-plate connected at its rear end with said bed and having a forward inclined stamp-separating portion extending above said stamp opening, a transverse plate connected with the upper surface of said inclined portion of said stamp -separating plate having an extended portion extending past the line of the outer surface of the st-an'ip-guiding bar, and an adjusting screw on said plate against which the upper surface of the said extended portion of the plate on said stamp-separating plate comes into contact.

23. A mechanism for stamp-aiicixing machines comprising a presser bar, a sleeve, and arms connected with said sleeve and pivotally connected with the presser bar, a rod extending through said sleeve, and a capstan screw pivoted in one end of said rod, a nut thereon and a spring controlling the force of the upward movement of the arms of the presser bar connected with the said nut, the tension of which spring is controlled by the capstan screw.

vJOHN GLLHAM, J'R. Titnesses RICHARD J. SMITH, K. H. Curries.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

